Plans for Togher National Enterprise Park on Display in Laois County Council
The Togher Masterplan detailing the development of a new National Enterprise Park for Togher, Portlaoise is currently on public display until September 4th 2018.
The vision for Togher National Enterprise Park is to deliver a viable economic zone focused on heavy, light, and ICT industry, trade warehousing, distribution, logistics and other uses associated with the transport industry with the aim of realising the full economic potential of Portlaoise. The Togher land bank occupies approximately 191 hectares south-west of Portlaoise Town nestled between the M7 motorway and the Cork-Dublin railway line. Laois County Council recently purchased 32 hectares within the Togher land-bank which will make up 23% of the undeveloped land. This is a significant portion of land which through Council intervention could be developed as a catalyst for the growth within the Togher Area. The development of this new national enterprise area will be fully integrated with Clonminam Industrial estate and the IDA Business Technology Park which forms the Togher Masterplan.
Portlaoise is an expanding and vibrant town with a skilled workforce and the world class infrastructure to attract inward investment and create local jobs. Recent statistics from the CSO have told us that there are approximately 11,477 workers travelling out of the county to work every day (CSO 2016). Of these 11,477 there are 8,847 commuters with third level degrees. Laois County Council realises the skills that are being lost on a daily basis and is committed to facilitating job creation in the town and surrounding area. Portlaoise has experienced exceptional population growth in recent years with the population growing by 45% from 2006–2016. It is also one of the three fastest growing towns in Ireland alongside Balbriggan and Navan (1996-2016).
The Togher National Enterprise Park is supported by the policy frameworks at national and regional level and has the potential to connect the cities of Cork and Dublin supporting their growth while developing a cluster of complimentary enterprises creating a more diverse and robust economy for the town, county and region. Togher, as a National Enterprise Park will be focused in particular on trade warehousing, distribution, logistics and other uses associated with the transport industry.
The creation of the masterplan for Togher will form part of the Local development Plan and will enable the creation of new opportunities for the local economy. These opportunities are already starting to bear fruit with Glanbia’s recent announcement of a €130m investment in a new cheese manufacturing facility in Portlaoise. The creation of a Mozzarella cheese factory will make Glanbia one of the anchor tenants at Togher National Enterprise Park and the first step in sustainable jobs for the future in Laois.
The plans for the Togher National Enterprise Park, Portlaoise are available here or in County Hall and libraries across the County until the 4th of September 2018. A Public Information Session in relation to the Togher Masterplan and proposed Material Alterations will be held at the Maldron Hotel, Abbeyleix Road, Meelick, Portlaoise on Wednesday 22nd August 2018 between 4pm and 6pm.
To learn more about Glanbia’s new investment in the future of Laois click here.
Any queries on the masterplan should be directed to David O’Hara, Laois County Council, and Planning Section 0578664020.
If you are interested in enquiring about acquiring land in the Togher National Enterprise Park, you should contact Denise Rainey, Laois County Council, Business Support Unit at 0578664103.
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